Facebook Danger for our Children

Think before you let your child on. If you let your child, you have to get an account too. Keep an eye on your child’s Facebook page. Have your child:

– Think before they post.

– Help your child set the Privacy setting.

– Never put private information: age, DOB, location(No home neighborhood); basically, only the child’s name and sex.

– I would not allow anymore information.

– I would not allow a picture of a young child.

– Don’t make friends with people you or your child don’t know.

A little fact: 160,000 teens skip school because of bullying. Try to make it your point as a parent NOT to allow your child to take pictures of inappropriate behavior. What is inappropriate behavior?

– Pictures of other children or of themself not dressed.

– Pictures of them in school or in class.

– Pictures of your child or another children with illegal substances including bottles of alcohol.

– Pictures of people who would not want to be photographed.

– NEVER post that you are out of town.

– NEVER post that you have won a million dollars.

– NEVER post personal problems.

– NEVER post with bad language.

– NEVER post to hurt another person.

Always have your child ask if it is OK to place the picture up on their wall. I know nowadays, the best “BUZZ” is the controversial pictures. Look at the T.V. shows: American Idol with a mean judge, Biggest Loser, all the reality shows like Jersey Boys, all of it. Don’t let this behavior continue. Social networking sites where originally made to share pictures to our real friends and family. Since it has gone public, your privacy is now gone. Even if you can’t share without becoming friends, a stranger can still see your friends.

An interview was done at a school in Florida where almost 100% of children in grades 8 and up have a computer, smart phone and are on some type of IT powered device. They asked the senior class are they glad they went on Facebook. It is to my understanding at this lecture I went to that the Senior Class feels they fell into a black hole and they can’t get out. When your child is applying to colleges or on an interview. Many times the interviewer will go on to Google, Facebook, or other social media networks to see what they find.

Children are having arguments now that are not face to face, but by types of social networking, i.e. texting, facebooking, myspace, iChat…So food for thought: Your child comes home, had a great day with his/her friends. Starts texting on an issue. The person misunderstands what they say because they are not communicating face to face. They are now not speaking to the other child. That child shares the texts or posts and now the entire group of children at school know about it. It keeps escalating and your child doesn’t want to go to school. You call the guidance counselor. NOW WHAT?

Parents: When our children were little we watched them at the park. When they get older in our “NEW” society, we need to watch them online. It’s our job and our responsibility. Law Enforcement is starting to develop new laws and someone’s child is going to be made an example of. It has already started in Massachusetts and in my opinion, it is going to snowball into all communities.

My Etiquette for Children: Make believe parents or someone who your child respects(a teacher, Rabbi or Priest, the President) is watching and reading the post before you hit the send button!